Canadian Grain Commission Wants Input On Falling Number And DON

As part of its grain grading modernization initiative, the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) wants to hear from grain sector stakeholders to provide input on whether falling number and deoxynivalenol (DON) should become official grain grading factors.

"We invite all sector stakeholders to join the conversation on whether to incorporate more analytical testing into the grain grading system, with a view to maintaining the standard of excellence for Canadian grain in the modern marketplace," said Patti Miller, Chief Commissioner.

Currently, falling number and DON are not official grading factors in the statutory Canadian grading system for any type of crop. However, they increasingly play a critical role in grain contracts and the assessment and price that grain sector participants, including producers, receive for their grain. Advances in technology and analytical testing now provide the opportunity to test directly for these important characteristics using methods that are increasingly accessible to the sector.

The falling number value is an internationally standardized method for quantifying the extent of sprout damage in wheat. Deoxynivalenol (DON), also called vomitoxin, is a mycotoxin produced by some species of Fusarium, a fungus that infects wheat, barley, oats and corn. DON is toxic to both humans and animals.